Is it time to change my Vectra - 99,000?

JustLikeThat

I have an 08 Vectra 1.9 cdti Life. It has now passed 99,000 miles and is just over 4 years old. I have driven it from new as a company car and then bought it privately a year or so ago - hence the high mileage. It has had a new cambelt and been serviced regularly; it drives well and gives 45-50 mpg.
While it is still worth something, I wondered whether I should change cars. People have said it will go on 'forever' as a diesel, but I am concerned that I may start to get expensive problems soon. So far it has been trouble-free - never even needed a new exhaust. I have no car expertise.

Stooby2

99,000 isn't a lot for modern cars these days and a 2008 registered car shouldn't start developing the electrical / mechanical gremlins you might expect in ten years time.

Have a search on Google for the owners clubs and see what they think - I'd guess they'll say much the same.

If it was my car, I'd keep it until I did start to get a few niggles with it. You'll lose a lot of money on it selling it now and as everything seems to be OK, why change it?

interstellaflyer

If it's 16v then the swirl flaps in the inlet manifold may give trouble and that's a new manifold job, also the clutch and DMF may need doing in the near future and that's £1000 ish other than that the EGR valve can be problematic, however in most cases you can clean these yourself, there is plenty of stuff on the internet showing you how to do it.

I'm with Stooby2, I'd be inclined to keep it, I own an 08 1.9CDTi 8v with 39,000 miles on the clock.

JustLikeThat

...new manifold job...
What kind of cost? I'm trying to weigh up a value of £3-4000 selling soon with possible uneconomic repair costs.
Some years ago I bought my 3 year old work car (Cavalier) and my daughter ignored warning lights and drove it to a standstill and 'write-off'. Hence my current concerns, although in a different situation.
Next year my (reduced) endowment matures and I would have funds to buy a new/nearly new car to keep for many years in retirement.

rxbren

just dont drive it if any warning lights come on
main areas are listed above although you can get the clutch and dmf for less than half of that

jase1

1) The fact that it has 99,000 miles means it's just run in.
2) The fact that it is diesel has no bearing on this.

Modern cars, diesel or petrol, will take the miles no problem -- especially the larger ones like the Vectra.

Now, if the car was 10 years old with 40,000 miles -- that's a potential money-pit.

w211

I had a Vauxhall Combo van with the 1.7 CDTi engine. Ran it to 177,000 miles then had to get rid because I changed jobs. Still had the original clutch, gearbox, battery, exhaust, turbo - though it was mostly motorway mileage.

Destination_..._?

Suspension coils going is a common faults on these cars . Happened to my friends car on a 2006 reg , low mileage and well looked after.He called out rac breakdown after it happened . According to my friend , rac man said its a known problem . I personally never heard about it . Maybe get them checked or replaced .

skivenov

Although the book values aren't bad, the real-world resale value's pretty poor on Vectras, I'd say if it's reliable, you know it's been treated right, and you like it, use it til it falls apart.

Stooby2

If you're concerned you could do an oil & filter change six months after each yearly service. At 30,000 + miles a year it's what I'd be doing.

JustLikeThat

Thanks for everyone's input. The high mileage was from when it was my 'work car', I now do about 10k per year.